Our line workers spend countless hours each year driving in our communities and tend to see somethings most people don’t. Recently, South Bend line workers witnessed something most people don’t want to see – a terrible crash at a busy intersection.
Gabe Smith, Zane Mauke and Joe Russo helped after witnessing a vehicle crash.
“We had just finished grabbing lunch and preparing to head to our next task. We saw a semi-truck and a passenger van collide and the sound was awful,” said Gabe Smith, I&M line worker. “We knew immediately those people in the vehicles needed help. We saw the danger and ran towards it.”
Smith and fellow line workers, Zane Mauke and Joe Russo, called 911 and then checked on the drivers of both vehicles. Some people would just drive by or figure someone else will call for help, but not our line workers.
“At I&M, we are our brother’s/sister’s keeper. That also goes for our customers or people we encounter while on the job,” said Brent Schoenleber, District System supervisor for the South Bend line department. “I’m proud of the line workers who stopped what they were doing to help these people in probably one of their worst moments.”
While the crew received praise, they simply agree they just did the right thing at the right time.